Stand Up for Maryland Charter Schools

Tell your lawmakers to support HB 1218, a bill to create a task force to conduct a summer study of our current charter law--ranked the second worst in the nation. This study would result in recommendations of the specific changes needed to give high-performing charter schools the flexibility and support they need to innovate and grow.

Maryland's public charter school law--ranked the second worst in the nation--desperately needs an overhaul. That's why I urge you to support House Bill 1218, which would create a task force to conduct a study of our current charter law. The task force would then use those findings to recommend the specific changes needed to give high-performing charter schools the flexibility and support they need to innovate and grow.

Across the country, high-performing charter schools have contributed to increases in student achievement, regardless of students' socio-economic background. However, public charter schools in Maryland currently struggle under a system that makes it difficult to innovate and also impossible to grow to scale.

By supporting HB 1218, you will help spark a long-overdue conversation in Maryland about what it will take to transform our charter law from one of the worst in the country to one of the best. And a strong charter law is a vital component of a thriving school system in which all Maryland families--including the 10,000 currently on public charter school waiting lists--have the great school options they deserve.